• The Stage of Play: Swamiji explains this frequently quoted verse, which outlines the general trajectory of human life. As children (bālastāvat), individuals are naturally not interested in devotion (bhakti) or bhagavan. While in the past parents might have insisted on prayers and chanting, modern culture emphasizes individual children’s rights, making it difficult to enforce spiritual routines. Being unaware of the value of spirituality, children are entirely engrossed in play and toys (krīḍāsaktaḥ), where krīḍā simply means play.

The Obsessions of Youth

• The Pull of Attraction: As a person enters youth (taruṇastāvat), they naturally become attracted to the opposite sex (taruṇīsaktaḥ). Swamiji points out that in modern times, this involves dating, staying out late at hotels, and running around with partners. The youth often rebel against their parents, viewing traditional advice as obsolete and claiming they know exactly what to do. Consequently, the teenage years frequently bring turmoil into the household, leaving absolutely no room for spiritual contemplation.

The Worries of Old Age

• The Burden of Anxiety: Many people assume they can easily postpone spiritual studies until retirement, often teasing youngsters who attend scripture classes by asking if they are trying to become śaṅkarācārya. However, when old age finally arrives (vṛddhastāvat), a person becomes completely consumed by anxieties (cintāsaktaḥ). Instead of finding peace, they worry about unsettled children, conflicts with a daughter-in-law, or severe disagreements over how to raise their grandchildren. Even when sitting with the gītā in hand, the mind remains heavily distracted by household politics and past regrets, making true spiritual focus impossible.

The Ultimate Tragedy

• Missing the Goal: The net result of these successive distractions is that absolutely no one finds the time to dedicate themselves to the supreme reality (pare brahmaṇi ko’pi na saktaḥ). Swamiji notes that śaṅkarācārya is almost weeping as he observes humanity completely missing the only truly worthwhile pursuit in life because they are perpetually distracted at every single stage of their existence.

• The Delusion of Postponing Spirituality: As a continuation of the mohamudgara (delusion-removing) project, śaṅkarācārya addresses one of the most widespread human misconceptions: the belief that spiritual pursuits can be entirely postponed to the later stages of life. People mistakenly assume that the first three-quarters of their existence should be exclusively dedicated to material goals, with spirituality reserved only for old age. Swamiji explains that this habit of postponement creates two major problems. The first is the sheer unpredictability of life. Because we do not have a guaranteed lifespan of 75 or 90 years given to us by yamadharmarāja, delaying our spiritual journey is a grave mistake.
• The Deep Imprints of Materialism: The second major problem with postponing spirituality is the impossibility of sudden transformation. If a mind has been thoroughly soaked in materialism for sixty years, it cannot abruptly switch its thought patterns to absorb the profound teachings of the gītā or the upaniṣad. The materialistic vāsanā (tendencies and impressions) become so strongly imprinted over decades that it takes years just to get into the proper spiritual groove.
• The Necessity of Starting Early: To avoid these pitfalls, interest and training in spirituality must begin early in life. While the proportion of time dedicated to different pursuits will naturally vary—for instance, in the initial stages of life, one might spend 75% of their energy on earning and raising a family—a person must still actively dedicate at least 25% of their time to getting into the spiritual groove. The ultimate goal is a gradual shift in these proportions. By the time a person reaches old age, there should be a smooth and comfortable transition from worldly pursuit pradhānam (as the primary focus) to spiritual pursuit pradhānam. Swamiji notes that śaṅkarācārya laments those who try to suddenly meditate late in life; when they close their eyes, bhagavan does not appear to them. Instead, their minds are flooded with the worldly matters they have obsessed over for the past fifty years. Therefore, one must never postpone their spiritual education and should consistently find time for satsaṅga and exposure to the śāstra.